Los Angeles, Feb 10th, 2012 - The 2012 Calendar Bike Show continues its now 21-year tradition as the premier outdoor streetbike event in America with top Celebrity Builders, the upscale Calendar Bike Building Championship & Concours d' Elegance, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, Calendar Girl Music live performances. As always the Show marks the world premier of next year's new 2013 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars featuring the world's top roadrace and custom motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens also featured in the Calendars in attendance at the Show.

Join us for a beautiful new location in the tree shaded grass hills of the Santa a Mountains, a New Show Day, and Low Admission with Free parking. The 2012 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show moves from the Queen Mary, Long Beach to the exclusive
Calabasas Country Club and Golf Course, located between the Sagebrush Cantina and the Rock Store at the Parkway Calabasas exit off Hwy 101, the west end of the San Fernando Valley.

The Calendar Show is broadening its focus to include the growing Collector Bike Market with Exhibitors and Bike Show classes for classic European, British and Japanese motorcycles, along with American V-Twins and Customs. Show Entries will be placed in a Concours d' Elegance display throughout the venue on grass and patio walkways under shade trees at the Calabasas Country Club overlooking the golf course.

New Calendar Kitten Liz Leyda tells us about her first time ecperience..... shooting for the FastDates.com Calendars!

2012 World Superbike Entry List
Ducati will not race the new 1199 Panigale in World Supersport, old 1198 gets 6 kilo weight penalty Rome, Italy February 10th - InFront World Superbike has just released it list of team riders and approved homologated motorcycoes for the 2012 World Superbike season. Of note is the loss of rider Nori Haga who ws released from the Panta Aprila team, and has just found a ride in the British Superbike Championship with Swan Yamaha. Also of interest is that Ducati has not homologated its new 1199 Panigale to race in European Superstock 1000 as stated they would earlier, with last year's 1000 Champion Davide Giugliano moving to the Superbike class with Althea teammate and World Champion Carols Checa on the old Ducati 1198RS bike with a newly added 6 kilo / 13.2 lb weight penalty.

Phillip Island, Australia, 12th February -Team Althea Racing landed in Australia two days ago, with just enough time on its hands to make final preparations before testing gets underway at the historic Phillip Island circuit tomorrow. Althea Racing’s 2012 line-up, reigning Superbike Champion Carlos Checa and Superstock 1000 Champion Davide Giugliano, have taken their physical and mental preparation very seriously over the winter season and, despite the fact that last season’s racing concluded more than three months ago, both feel more than ready for the upcoming opening round taking place at Phillip Island later this month.

The team will however be making the most of the final testing sessions, which will see riders taking to the same track from 13th to 15th and 20th to 21st February. Under the guidance of team manager Genesio Bevilacqua, the squad will make the most of the testing sessions, using the time to work on the set-up of the Ducati 1198 bikes to ensure that the bikes, 6kg heavier this season, can be competitive in the opening races. Carlos is looking forward to getting back to work with his trusted team of engineers and mechanics that guided him to championship victory in 2011, while Davide relishes the challenge of racing in the Superbike category for the first time, supported by a team comprising both old and new technicians.
Both Checa and Giugliano will be riding the same Ducati 1198 as last year, updated in terms of suspension and braking systems. But the update that won’t help competitiveness is the extra 6kg of weight on the bikes, added in accordance with SBK regulations. This clearly won’t facilitate matters for the Althea men but both riders are nevertheless confident and enthusiastic as the countdown to the 2012 Superbike championship continues.

Verona, Italy, Feb 1st 2012 - Our intrepid Italian contributor Max Olina sent us these pictures from last month's Verona Motorcycle Show. The VeronaShow is Italy's largest custom and aftermarket product motorcycle show, drawing a big turnout of both consumers, builders and celebrities. Some of our own FastDates.com Calendar Celebrity Builders like Russell Mitchell / Exile Cycles have been flown to the Verona Show by its promoter in past yers for paid appearances. And like most Europen bike shows there is always lots of nice eye candy to dress up the bike displays. The next Verona Show takes place on January 18-20th 2013. For more details go to MotorbikeExpo.it

The reborn Norton motorcycle a in England is finally into production on their new generation Comandos and we are really lovingdiggin' them as the sexiest, most wanted, coolest retro streetbikes on the market. Hi-zoot Ohlins suspension and Brembo racing brakes are icing on the biscut.

Pro Italia Motorcycle Show 2011
By Jim Gianatsis / photos by Jim Gianatsis - Click on any Picture to Enlarge

Montrose, CA, October 2011 - Pro Italia Motorcycles, located in the beautiful little village of Montrose in the foothills to the San Gabriel Mountains above Glendale/Los Angeles, California is one of the premier Italian motorcycle dealers on the West Coast. Their motocycle lines include Ducati, MV Agusta, and Aprilia, and just recently the new Buell Sportbikes. Each year in October as the summer and the World Championship racing schedule cools down, they hold their annual Cafe Desmo motorcycle show on the closed off street alongside their dealership. This year Pro Italia's managing partner/owner Bill Nation went all out to make Cafe Desmo the best year with an incredible turnout of beautiful custom, stock and collector Italian, Japanese and British bikes, and related vendors. Pro Italia Cafe Event Coverage HERE

Noriyuki Haga signs up with Swan Yamaha for 2012 MCE British Superbike ChampionshipFeb 12th, 2012 -
The Swan Yamaha team has today confirmed that World Superbike rider Noriyuki Haga will be completing their line-up for the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he permanently replaces the injured Ian Hutchinson for the forthcoming season. Haga is famous for his flamboyant riding style with much of his World Championship success in the past powered by Yamaha. Japanese ace Haga joins the MCE BSB Championship with the Swan Yamaha team following a record of 43 race wins in the World Championship, finishing runner-up in the title race on three occasions (2009, 2007, 2000) and securing third in the overall standings in an additional four seasons (2008, 2006, 2005, 2004).

Haga has already celebrated success on MCE BSB Championship circuits at World level including podium finishes at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Silverstone and Assen as the Japanese contender prepares for his first full season in MCE BSB which gets underway at Brands Hatch on Easter weekend (6-9 April).

Haga said: “It is a new challenge for me to race in BSB and I am now ready for the new season with Swan Yamaha. I feel that after many years in the same series this will be a kind of restart to my racing career. BSB has grown a lot and I have big support from the fans in the UK, so I liked the idea of racing in the Championship. It will also be a return to Yamaha, where I spent so many years taking many wins and now I feel like I am going back to my family. I have won races with Yamaha before in the World Championship and now I hope that we can do it again in BSB. I don't know several circuits in England and the BSB Championship but I will do my best to get results this year for the fans, myself and for Yamaha. We will start testing soon and I am very excited to get back on track as we have big ambitions for this season. Finally I hope that Ian Hutchinson can recover soon from his injury.”

Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “It was a difficult situation for the Swan Yamaha team when Ian (Hutchinson) was sidelined with just four weeks remaining before we begin our pre-season testing programme. We then had to set out to find a replacement rider and the result for us could not have been better. We are absolutely delighted that Noriyuki will be joining us and we are now looking forward to welcoming him into the team. Noriyuki has such vast experience of racing a Superbike and during his career has always had a strong partnership with Yamaha and we are happy that we can continue that relationship this year. The Swan Yamaha team won the title last season and Noriyuki is really ready for the challenge of BSB and is coming to race here to win.”

Swan Marketing Manager Mark Alldred concluded: “We are thrilled to confirm the full team line up for the 2012 season after Ian’s unfortunate injury. We are delighted to welcome Noriyuki Haga to the team at this late stage. He has a fantastic pedigree at the highest level and will be a real contender for the championship this year. We have a great rider line-up at Swan Yamaha having signed two of the top riders in the championship. We wish them both the best of luck for the forthcoming season.”

Edelweiss Introduces new affordable Triumph Triday European Tours in June 2012Dec 15th 2011 - Enjoy the world's largest gathering of Triumph motorcycles on the Tridays Tour Newchurch. The Triumph Tridays, the biggest Triumph motorcycle meeting in the world is thedestination for these tours. The town of Neukirchen in Austria even changes its name into Newchurch for this special event.

Edelweiss World Tours and Triumph Motorccyles have gotten together to offer motorcycle enthusiasts a 4-Choice range of very affordable tours to attend the world's largest gathering of Triumph enthusiasts called Triday at the town of Neukirchen in the Austrian Alps. The tour dates range between June 17th - 29th of 2012. Three of the Tours start at the Triumph Factory in Hincky, England, where you'll take a factory tour and pick up a new Triumph motorcycle before. From there you'll head for the English Channel, catch a ferry boat at Dover to Calais in France, then travel acrosscentral Europe through Belgiumm Germany, Austria and Switzerland. You can choose to end the tour at Neukirchen, or return back across the Alps and Europe on a different route to the Triumph factory in England.

Along the way Edelweis will provide a route Tour Guide for your group, the Channel ferry ride, overnight accomodations in comfortable hotels, and morning breakfasts. Tours are priced at US $630 for 4 days to $2,520 for the full 13 days, plus the rental motorcycle (a Triumph Tiger 800/XC with other models on request) cost of $2,210 delivered to tour start hotel and return at tour end hotel.

The Official SBK
2011-2012 YearbookThese SBK Yearbooks are the Best Books Ever about World Superbike
They feature wesome color photography of the riders, bike and racing action. The feature a deailed revue of the past season in pictures and stactics, awith a detailed look at the bikes and riders.
Plus a technical look data all the bikes, a preview of the upcoming season's Championship!
We buy this every year ourselves and highly recommend it!

SBK 2011 Video Game

Ducati announces the 2012 848evo Racing Contingency Program
Continuing on the success of the last year’s 848evo Racing Contingency Program, Ducati announces today the details for the 2012 Ducati 848evo Racing Contingency Program in partnership with FreedomRoad Financial. 2012 is poised to be an exciting year of club racing and 848evo racers will have access to an expansive program from Ducati and FreedomRoad Financial that includes a greater number of racing series, higher number of paying classes and substantial cash payments to race winners.

How does it work?
Riders must submit an 848evo Racing Registration Form to Ducati North America by March 31st, 2012 including:
• Racer’s resume
• Current bike registration
• Photos of bike (Front and Profile)

What about contingency payment?
Ducati and FreedomRoad Financial will support and follow racers with PR activities, regular updates on ducatiusa.com and an all new Contingency Payment Program. Contingency wins will now receive payouts in the form of a cashier’s check directly from Ducati North America with the following payout structure:
• 1st place $1,200
• 2nd place $600
• 3rd place $300

The 2012 848evo Racing Program is open to all riders on 2010 or 2011 Ducati 848evo (US or Canada certified)

For any additional details on eligibility, rules and regulations, visit www.ducatiusa.com

The Devil Made Us Do It! Testing the Ducati Diavel in Italy

Roadracing's Fast Girl
Elena Myers Interview

Historic Racers to be Featured at Big Kahuna AMA National Road Atlanta April 20-22nd DENVER, Colo.,January 18, 2012 - When M1 PowerSports and AMA Pro Road Racing head back to Braselton, Ga.'s Road Atlanta for the return of the Big Kahuna Atlanta, scheduled for April 20 - 22, 2012, the action-packed event featuring the stars of American motorcycle road racing will be bolstered by classic race motorcycles and former road racing champions through the addition of the Historic Moto Grand Prix to the weekend's schedule.

"The original Big Kahuna at Road Atlanta is where it all started for me," said Cameron Gray, CEO of M1 PowerSports. "With the Historic Moto Grand Prix on board for this year's Big Kahuna Atlanta, we'll be able to connect the past with the present with all of these great champions and bikes heading back to the track. I can't wait to see what they've got in store."

All weekend long, Road Atlanta's main paddock will host a large Historic Moto Grand Prix display area showcasing some of history's most iconic vintage race motorcycles. Fans are invited to get up close and personal with the bikes, which will include classics like Jamie James' famed Yamaha YZF750/1000 "Yamamonster," Jimmy Filice's factory Yamaha FZR, a replica of Eddie Lawson's Daytona-winning Yamaha FZ750 and many, many more.

"Fans not only have the chance to see an amazing collection of motorcycles, but also the former champions of the sport that made their careers racing on or against them," said Bill Brown, former AMA Pro racer and founder of the Historic Moto Grand Prix. "With close to a dozen Yamahas and pushing upwards of 30 people interested in participating, this is sure to be one of the best opportunities we've had to share our love of motorcycle history with the fans."

"I can't wait to get back to Road Atlanta, it's always been one of my favorite racetracks because you can air it out there a little bit; it's a fun place to ride," said Jamie James. "I'm really looking forward to being around all my old racing friends. None of us have competed in a long time and all of that is pretty well behind us, so we can just get out there on the track and enjoy each other's company and have a little fun. It's going to be kind of different to be around that same group of guys and not have to be all serious; it'll make for a real fun day. Most of them are characters anyway; you have to be a little bit crazy to race these things for a living."

"It's been quite a few years since I've been on track at Road Atlanta," said Rich Oliver, who plans to ride the two-stroke twin-cylinder Yamaha TZ350 during the event. "I am absolutely looking forward to taking a few more laps on a vintage TZ Yamaha. It's going to be a really neat experience for me to get out there on one of my favorite tracks and wave to the fans."

"It's hard to believe that the bike that I qualified on for Daytona is considered vintage, man do I feel old," said David Sadowski. "It's going to be nice for all of us old cronies to get to spend 30 to 45 minutes during the lunch hour to speed these bikes onto the race track."

About Historic Moto Grand Prix: The Historic Moto Gran Prix (HMGP) is organized and led by former AMA Pro racer Bill Brown. It is designed as an alternate forum for both acknowledged classics like Manx Nortons and MV Agustas, and is also looking to draw more recent "classic" racers including the likes of Yamaha's legendary water-cooled, two-stroke TZ750 as successfully raced by the like of Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts and Dale Singleton. Home-built and replica race models are highly encouraged to join! HMGP is the perfect place to share motorsports history of many genres and organize truly world-class gentleman's racing. There are still opportunities to be featured as part of the Historic Moto Grand Prix display area at the Big Kahuna Atlanta, anyone with a classic/vintage race motorcycle that is interested in participating should contact Bill Brown at 404-379-6091.

About M1 PowerSports, formerly M1 Entertainment: A Denver-based company, M1 PowerSports has been working in motorsports for over 16 years. Originally spawned from Daniels Corporation under the name FAST, the fledgling company was heavily involved in television production for car and motorcycle racing. With the birth of Speedvision, FAST morphed into Race Promotion Management (RPM) and is now operating as M1 PowerSports with many of the same staff still in place. We still sell advertising for Speed, sell merchandise under the brand Moto 1 and promote our own events, keeping us busy year-round! For more information, please call 303-377-3278 or email info@m1powersports.com.

Sudco High Performance & OEM Replacement Parts

High Speed - the MovieThe best motorcycle racing movie ever made! Filmed on location at the World Superbike races , this an exciting romantic drama staring beautiful British actress Sienna Miller.

MotoGP Performance Riding New 2nd Edition!Official MotoGP book, the second edition of this practical guide to motorcycle racing technique, aimed at racing and track day enthusiasts at all levels, has been expanded to include extra information as well as many new photographs and up-to-date quotes from MotoGP stars